Solano County Biography
Michael S Derwin
Michael S Derwin - was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1812, and resided there till 1834, when he emigrated to America, first settling in Philadelphia. In 1837 he went to the Florida war, being connected with the quartermasters' department, and leaving there, came to New York in March, 1841, proceeding thereafter to Philadelphia. In that city he embarked in a grocery business, which he continued till 1848, when he moved to New Orleans, where he lived till 1852, in which year he left for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco on February 28th of that year. In March he paid a flying visit to Vallejo, and thence proceeded to Stockton, from which place he went to the mines in Tuolumne County, where he engaged in mining for one year. At the end of that period he returned to San Francisco and began draying, which business he prosecuted for eight months. In the latter part of the year 1853 he returned to Philadelphia and then to New York, in which city he started the wholesale and retail liquor trade. In July, 1854, he once more turned towards the Golden State, arriving in San Franciseo in August, and took up his abode there until January, 1855, when he moved to Vallejo and located in that city, and was employed for fifteen months in the Navy Yard at Mare Island. In 1856 he started for the mines in Oregon, sojourning there for one year and a half, at the expiration of which he came back to Vallejo, where he has since resided. In 1870 Mr. Derwin visited his friends in Philadelphia, and having returned to Yallejo, embarked in the grocery business. Mr. D. is a member of the firm of Derwin & McCudden, is married, and has a family.
History of Solano County, California
Pages 345-346
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February 2008
Solano County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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